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THE CAPE COD 
JOURNAL OF THE 
PILGRIM FATHERS 

Reprinted 

from Mourfs 

Relation 



With Introduction and Notes by 

Lyon Sharman 

and Cover Design by 

Julie C. Pratt 



THE ADVOCATE GIFT SHOP 

PROVINCETOWN 






Copyright, 1920, by 
Lyon Sharman 



Printed by 
THE ROYCROFTERS 

East Aurora, N. Y. 



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INTRODUCTION 

THE first American anchor- 
age of the Mayflower was in 
the " good harbor " of Cape 
Cod, November 21, 1620. 

The first thanksgiving for the 
completion of the voyage was made 
when the Pilgrims "set their feet 
upon the firm and stable earth " 
at Provincetown, and " fell upon 
their knees and blessed the God 
of heaven." 

During the first five weeks spent 
by the Pilgrims in America, the 
Mayflower lay anchored at Prov- 
incetown (November 21-December 
25, 1620), and exploring parties 
went forth " to look out a place 
for habitation." 

The first " landing at Plymouth " 
(December 21, 1620) was the land- 
ing of the third exploring party 
sent from the Mayflower while she 
still lay within the shelter of Prov- 
incetown harbor. 



These are a few of the historical 
facts which challenge the attention 
of Americans. The knowledge of 
these facts has not come down to 
us by obscure or doubtful tradition. 
The Pilgrims left the record of 
them in a pamphlet printed in 
England as early as 1622. 

The first experiences of the Pil- 
grims in the New World made a 
vivid impression on their minds. 
Letters were written and journals 
were kept of what they saw and 
did in America. The Mayflower her- 
self, on her return-sailing in April 
1621, carried the first of the ac- 
counts to friends in Holland and 
England. Narratives of later hap- 
penings were sent by the next ship 
that came and went. Some of these 
journals and letters were gathered 
together by a representative of the 
colony in London, presumably 
George Morton, who published 
them in 1622 with a title nearly 
two hundred words long: A Re- 
lation or Journall of the Beginning 
and Proceedings of the English Plan- 
tation settled at Plimoth in New 
England^ etc. etc. Because an 



abbreviation of the long title was 
inevitable, and because the editor 
had quaintly signed the preface 
" G. Mourt," this book is now 
always referred to as Mourt's Re- 
lation. That part of the journal 
which deals with the five weeks 
on Cape Cod is here fully reprinted 
word for word. In the hope that 
it will lead to a more general read- 
ing of this old record, the spelling 
is modernized. 

When William Bradford, some 
years later, wrote his History 
of Plymouth Plantation, he retold 
these events in much shortened 
form. His chapter covering the 
period between the anchoring at 
Cape Cod and the arrival of the 
Mayflower at Plymouth is not a 
third as long as the parallel account 
in Mourt's Relation. His is so evi- 
dently based on Mourt's Relation 
that it has not seemed worth while 
to print it also in this little pam- 
phlet. But here and there a sen- 
tence occurs which adds some detail 
from Bradford's own memory. Such 
sentences have been printed at the 
foot of these pages with marginal 



references. Bradford's fuller ac- 
count of the first three days in 
Plymouth Harbor is also given. 

After the Pilgrims settled at 
Plymouth, Cape Cod never seemed 
to them far away. They discovered 
at once that they could see the 
Cape from the hill back of the 
town-site; they say so in their 
journal. On one occasion after 
another, they came back to Cape 
Cod. The next summer after their 
arrival, one of the Plymouth boys 
got lost in the woods and strayed 
a long way from home. He fell in 
with Indians who took him to 
Nauset on Cape Cod. To recover 
him Governor Bradford sent out 
a party of men, who came in a 
shallop as far down the Cape as 
the present Eastham — to the very 
place, they tell us, where the 
Indians had attacked them in 
December 1620. There they found 
the lost boy. The Fortune^ the 
second ship that came to Plym- 
outh, stopped like the Mayflower 
in " the harbor at Cape Cod " 
(November 19, 1621), and the 
Indians of the Cape sent to Plym- 



II 



outh the first news of its appear- 
ance. In the late autumn and 
winter of 1622 a party from Plym- 
outh made a tour of Cape Cod 
to buy corn from the Indians. 
Bradford himself led this expedi- 
tion and tells about it in his History; 
so does Winslow, in Good News 
from New England (1624). In 1627 
an English ship bound for Virginia, 
the Sparrowhawk, ran aground near 
Chatham.The people all got ashore,, 
and through the friendliness of the 
Indians, got a message off to Plym- 
outh asking for help. This brought 
Pilgrims down the Cape again. 

Besides these recorded expedi- 
tions, there were doubtless many 
trips made to the Cape both for 
fishing and for fur-trading. When 
settlements began to scatter out 
from Plymouth, Cape Cod began 
to be settled. In less than twenty 
years after the landing of the 
Pilgrim Fathers, three Cape set- 
tlements had grown to the dignity 
of organized townships; Sandwich, 
Barnstable, and Yarmouth were 
all incorporated in 1639 under the 
jurisdiction of Plymouth. So many 



people were wanting to leave Plym- 
outh about this time, that a pro- 
posal was very seriously considered 
in the early forties for abandoning 
Plymouth altogether and moving 
the whole colony to Nauset. 
Although, on mature deliberation, 
Plymouth was not vacated, a col- 
ony led by one of their ex-govern- 
ors, Thomas Prince, went off and 
founded Eastham in 1644. From 
these four early Pilgrim settle- 
ments — Sandwich, Barnstable,Yar- 
mouth, and Eastham — most of the 
present towns of the Cape have 
been created by subdivision. 

These facts should make it clear 
that Bradford was not writing about 
a distant or forgotten country ,when 
he included the earliest Cape Cod 
incidents in his History of Plym- 
o«M.That the educators of America 
— schools, colleges, newspapers,and 
books — have suffered a pathological 
lapse of memory in regard to these 
early episodes, is the astounding 
fact that really needs explaining. 
It is partly accounted for by the 
devout andall-absorbingPlymouth- 
worship, which has possessed many 



American patriots. And this is by 
no means an unfortunate develop- 
ment. It is unfortunate that an 
English poetess, who never even 
saw New England, should have 
been aided and abetted by Amer- 
ican school-textbooks and school- 
teachers in fixing an untrue picture 
in many minds. By the time a 
schoolboy has committed to mem- 
ory 

The breaking waves dashed high 
On a stern and rock-bound coast, 

it has become imaginatively impos- 
sible for him to think of a Pilgrim- 
landing different from the poetical 
one. Hundreds of such schoolboys, 
grown to various stages of man- 
hood, visit Cape Cod every year 
and come to a knowledge of the 
truth through stages of incredulity 
and perplexity. That a poem by 
Felicia Hemans should be popu- 
larly accepted as history, and the 
journal written by the Pilgrims 
themselves, approached with sus- 
picion, is a real disgrace to our 
popular education. 

Historians, who at various times 



have edited Mourt's Relation^ have 
been interested in identifying the 
places where the various incidents 
occurred. The best work of this 
sort was done in the nineteenth 
century, and chiefly by three men. 
The first of these was a son of 
Cape Cod, James Freeman of Bos- 
ton, whose father was a native of 
Truro. In 1802 Freeman edited a 
part of Mourt's Relation with notes 
for the Massachusetts Historical 
Society. The second was Alexander 
Young, who included Mourt's Re- 
lation in his book entitled Chronicles 
of the Pilgrim Fathers (1841) and 
furnished it with a series of fasci- 
nating footnotes identifying and 
describing localities, incidentally 
quoting often and gratefully from 
Freeman. The third was Henry 
Martyn Dexter, who, while ac- 
knowledging indebtedness to his 
predecessors, carried identifications 
even further. In his edition of 
Mourt's Relation (1865) he pub- 
lished a map setting forth his 
suggestions as to probable localities 
and itineraries. A part of this map, 
covering the tip of the Cape, has 



been reprinted many times in Prov- 
incetown in recent years. 

The outstanding identifications 
are not involved in any obscurity 
or difficulty. The description of the 
" harbor of Cape Cod " in which 
the Mayflower found a haven, fits 
Provincetown harbor and no other. 
The closing episode of the Cape 
explorations — the encounter with 
the Indians — was at Nauset; the 
later -journals say so. The identi- 
fication of Nauset with Eastham 
is established by later records and 
by the early Pilgrim settlement at 
Eastham. So, all the Cape Cod 
localities mentioned in the journal 
here reprinted must lie in the 
townships of Provincetown, Truro, 
Wellfleet, or Eastham. A midv/ay 
point is settled by the identification 
of the " supposed river " with the 
Pamet.The striking correspondence 
of the description with the topogra- 
phy of the Paniet would satisfy 
most minds. We have in addition 
the corroboration of the place ■ 
name,whatever that may be worth. 
In the message sent to Massasoit 
in 1621 (recorded in a later narra- 



tive in Mourt's Relation) the Pil- 
grims say: " At our first arrival 
at Paomet, called by us Cape Cod, 
we found there corn buried in the 
ground." 

Some other places have not been 
so convincingly determined. Dex- 
ter's hypothetical pond on the 
Provincetown beach, which figures 
in his map, is the result of a rather 
gallant determination to furnish 
the Pilgrim Mothers with fresh 
water for their Monday washing. 
The " springs " where the Pilgrims 
drank their " first New England 
water " seem to many unsatisfac- 
torily identified. One would make 
himself famous if he could dig up 
relics and prove the exact location 
of the "sumptuous"palisaded 
burying-ground of the Nauset In 
dians. Many of the minor details 
of Dexter's hypothesis need to be 
challenged, debated, and either re- 
proved or disproved. A bit of 
topographical research would add 
zest to any Cape Cod vacation. 
It offers also a most interesting 
hobby to those who live on Cape 
Cod and know thoroughly, not only 
xii 



every foot of the ground, but also 
the elements which had as much 
influence upon the movements of 
the Pilgrims — the winds and the 
sea. 

Lest they should arrogate to 
themselves the authority of the 
original journal, no identifications 
have been permitted in the text, 
even in brackets. They are dis- 
tinctly set apart in the margins; 
and even there, only such identi- 
fications are suggested as are agreed 
upon byprime authoritiesand 
therefore seem most unlikely to be 
successfully disputed. Those who 
are interested in more detailed 
identifications are referred to the 
authorities already mentioned. 

The margins are also used for 
another kind of matter extraneous 
to the text: dates, transposed from 
the antiquated Julian calendar to 
that now all but universally used. 
This transposition requires the ad- 
dition of ten. days to the dates as 
they stand in the journal. 

After the lapse of three centuries 
it is difficult to realize the fortui- 
tousness of the settlement at Plym- 



outh. But any one who reads the 
following journal will see that the 
Cape Cod episodes were the grop- 
ing steps by which the location 
of the colony was finally deter- 
mined. The changes of plans and 
the accidents, which brought the 
Pilgrims ultimately to Plymouth, 
were piquantly summarized at the 
time by John Pory, whose visit to 
the colony in 1622 Bradford inci- 
dentally mentions in his History, 
but whose letter has only recently 
been discovered. 

" How favorably God's providence 
without, and indeed quite besides, 
any plot or design of theirs hath 
wrought, especially in the begin- 
ning of their enterprise, is worthy 
to be observed. For when .... 
their voyage was intended for Vir- 
ginia, being by letters . . . recom- 
mended to Sir Yardly then gov- 
ernor, that he should give them 
the best advice he could for trading 
in Hudson's River; whether it were 
by contrariety of wind or by the 
backwardness of their master or 
pilot to make, as they thought it, 
too long a iournev; thev fell short 



both of the one and the other, 
arriving first at that stately harbor 
called Cape Co"d, called by Indians 
Pawmet; from whence in shallop 
the pilot (a more forward under- 
taker than performer) promised to 
bring them to be seated in a pleas- 
ant and fertile place called Anqiiam, 
situate within Cape Anna about 
forty leagues from Plym.outh.After 
some dangerous and almost incur- 
able errors and mistakings, he 
stumbled by accident upon the 
harbor of Plymouth, where, after 
the planters had failed of their 
intention and the pilot of his, it 
pleased Almighty God (who had 
better provided for them than their 
own hearts could imagine) to plant 
them upon the seat of an old town, 
which divers years before had been 
abandoned of the Indians." 

Those who have regretted that 
Mourt's Relation has been so com- 
pletely out of print will welcome 
even this fractional republication 
of it. It is hoped that those who 
have not already made themselves 
acquainted with this old Pilgrim 
record will find this little edition a 



happy introduction to it. Enthu- 
siasts for the Cape will feel addi- 
tional interest in the probability 
that a large part of the journal 
here reprinted was written while 
the Mayflower lay in "that stately 
harbor called Cape Cod, called by 
Indians Pawmet." 

Lvox Sharman 
North Truro, Mass. 
June I, 1920 



THE CAPE COD 
JOURNAL OF THE 
PILGRIM FATHERS 

Reprinted from Mourt's Relation 



WEDNESDAY, the sixth of 
September, the wind com- Sept. r6, 1620 
ing east-north-east, a fine 
small gale, we loosed from Plym- Plymouth, Eng. 
outh, having been kindly enter- 
tained and courteously used by 
divers friends there dwelling; and 
after many difficulties in boisterous 
storms, at length, by God's provi- 
dence, upon the ninth of November Nov. /p, 1620 
following, by break of the day we 
espied land, which we deemed to 
be Cape Cod, and so afterward it Cf. Bradford i 
proved. And the appearance of it 
much comforted us, especially see- 
ing so goodly a land, and wooded 
to the brink of the sea; it caused 



Bradford 1: 

^" A word or two by the way of this 
Cape; it was thus first named by Captain 
Gosnold and his company. Anno 1602, and 
after by Captain Smith was called Cape 
James; but it retains the former name 
amongst seamen." — History of Plymouth 
Plantation. 



us to rejoice together, and praise 
God that had given us once again 
to see land. And thus we made 
our course south-south-west, pur- 

Hudson River posing to go to a river ten leagues 

Cf. Bradford 2 to the south of the Cape; but at 

night the wind being contrary, we 

put round again for the bay of 

Cape Cod; and upon the nth of 

Nov. 21, 1620 November we came to an anchor 

Provincetown in the bay, which is a good harbor 

and pleasant bay, circled round, 

except in the entrance, which is 



Bradford 2: 

^ " After some deliberation had amongst 
themselves and with the master of the 
ship, they tacked about and resolved to 
stand for the southward (the wind and 
weather being fair) to find some place 
about Hudson's river for their habitation. 
But after they had sailed that course about 
half the day, they fell amongst dangerous 
shoals and roaring breakers, and they were 
so far entangled therewith as they con- 
ceived themselves in great danger; and 
the wind shrinking upon them withal, 
they resolved to bear up again for the 
Cape, and thought themselves happy to 
get out of those dangers before night 
overtook them, as by God's providence 
they did. And the next day they got 
into the Cape-harbor where they rid in 

safety That point which first 

showed those dangerous shoals unto them, 
they called Point Care, and Tucker's Ter- 
ror; but the French and Dutch to this day 
call it Malabar by reason of those perilous 
shoals and the losses they have suffered 
there."— H. P. P. 



I 



about four miles over from land 
to land, compassed about to the 
very sea with oaks, pines, juniper, 
sassafras, and other sweet wood; 
it is a harbor wherein a thousand 
sail of ships may safely ride. There 
we relieved ourselves with wood 
and water, and refreshed our peo- 
ple, while our shallop was fitted 
to coast the bay to search for an 
habitation. There was the greatest 
store of fowl that ever we saw. 

And every day we saw whales 
playing hard by us, of which in 
that place, if we had instruments 
and means to take them, we might 
have made a very rich return; 
which, to our great grief, we want- 
ed. Our master, and his mate, and 
others experienced in fishing, pro- 
fessed we might have made three 
or four thousand pounds' worth 
of oil. They preferred it before 
Greenland whale-fishing, and pur- 
pose the next winter to fish for 
whale here. For cod we assayed, 
but found none; there is good store, 
no doubt, in their season. Neither 
got we any fish all the time we 
lay there, but some few little ones 



on the shore. We found great mus- 
sels, and very fat and full of sea- 
pearl; but we could not eat them, 
for they made us all sick that did 
eat, as well sailors as passengers; 
they caused to cast and scour; 
but they were soon well again. 

The bay is so round and circling, 
that before we could come to an- 
chor, we went round all the points 
of the compass. We could not come 
near the shore by three quarters 
of an English mile, because of 
shallow water, which was a great 
prejudice to us; for our people, 
going on shore, were forced to 
wade a bowshot or two in going 
a-land, which caused many to get 
colds and coughs; for it was many 
times freezing cold weather. 

This day, before we came to 
Cf. Bradford J harbor, observing some not well 



Bradford 3: 

^ " Occasioned partly by the discontented 
and mutinous speeches that some of the 
strangers amongst them had let fall from 
them in the ship— that when they came 
ashore they would use their own liberty; 
for none had power to command them, 
the patent they had being for Virginia, 
and not for New England, which belonged 
to another government, with which the 
Virginia Company had nothing to do. And 



affected to unity and concord, but 
gave some appearance of faction, 
it was thought good there should 
be an association and agreement, 
that we should combine together 
in one body, and to submit to such 
government and governors as we 
should by common consent agree 
to make and choose, and set our 
hands to this that follows, word 
for word. 

In the name of God, Amen. We, 
whose names are underwritten, the 
loyal subjects of our dread sov- 
ereign Lord King James, by the 
grace of God, of Great Britain, 
France, and Ireland king, defender 
of the faith, &c. 

Having undertaken for the glory 
of God, and advancement of the 
Christian faith, and honor of our 
king and country, a voyage to 
plant the first colony in the north- 
ern parts of Virginia, do by these 
presents solemnly and mutually, 
in the presence of God and one 

partly that such an act by them done 
(this their condition considered) might be 
as firm as any patent, and in some respects 
more sure." — H. P. P. 



of another, covenant and combine 
ourselves together into a civil body 
politic, for our better ordering and 
preservation, and furtherance of 
the ends aforesaid; and by virtue 
hereof to enact, constitute, and 
frame such just and equal laws, 
ordinances, acts, constitutions, of- 
fices from time to time, as shall 
be thought most meet and con- 
venient for the general good of 
the colony: unto which we promise 
all due submission and obedience. 
In witness whereof we have here- 
under subscribed our names, Cape 

Nov. 21,1620 Cod, nth of November, in the 
year of the reign of our sovereign 
Lord King James of England, 
France, and Ireland i8th, and of 

Cj. Bradford 4 Scotland 54th, Anno Domini 1620. 

The same day, so soon as we 

could, we set ashore 15 or 16 men, 



Bradford \: 

^ At the end of his History Bradford gives 
the names of the original settlers together 
with their families and servants. In this 
list he seems to use the title Mr. with 
discrimination. This list is to be distin- 
guished from the list of the signers of 
the Compact, which was first published 
in 1669 by Nathaniel Morton in New 
England's Memorial. The names of the 
signers are there given with some vari- 
ation from Bradford's spelling, as follows: 



well armed, with some to fetch Cf. Bradford S 

wood, for we had none left; as also 

to see what the land was, and what 

inhabitants they could meet with. Cf. Bradford 6 

They found it to be a small neck 

of land; on this side where we lay. 



John Carver 
William Bradford 
Edward Winslow 
William Brewster 
Isaac Allerton 
Miles Standish 
John Alden 
Samuel Fuller 
Christopher Martin 
William Mullins 
William White 
Richard Warren 
John Howland 
Stephen Hopkins 
Edward Tilly 
John Tilly 
Francis Cooke 
Thomas Rogers 
Thomas Tinker 
John Ridgdale 
Edward Fuller 



John Turner 
Francis Eaton 
James Chilton 
John Craxton 
John Billington 
Joses Fletcher 
John Goodman 
Digery Priest 
Thomas Williams 
Gilbert Winslow 
Edmund Margeson 
Peter Brown 
Richard Bitteridge 
George Soule 
Richard Clark 
Richard Gardiner 
John Allerton 
Thomas English 
Edward Doten 
Edward Leister 



Bradford 5: 

fl " Being thus arrived in a good harbor and 
brought safe to land, they fell upon their 
knees and blessed the God of heaven, who 
had brought them over the vast and furious 
ocean, and delivered them from all the 
perils and miseries thereof, again to set 
their feet on the firm and stable earth, 
their proper element." — H. P. P. 

Bradford 6: 

^ " They had now no friends to welcome 
them nor inns to entertain or refresh their 
weatherbeaten bodies, no houses or much 
less towns to repair to And for 



is the bay, and the further side 
the sea; the ground or earth, sand 
hills, much like the downs in Hol- 
land, but much better; the crust 
of the earth, a spit's depth, excel- 
lent black earth; all wooded with 
oaks, pines, sassafras, juniper, birch, 
holly, vines, some ash, walnut; the 
wood for the most part open and 
without underwood, fit either to 
go or ride in. At night our people 
returned, but found not any per- 
son, nor habitation; and laded their 



the season it was winter, and they that 
know the winters of that country- know 
them to be sharp and violent, and subject 
to cruel and fierce storms, dangerous to 
travel to known places, much more to 
search an unknown coast. Besides, what 
could they see but a hideous and desolate 
wilderness, full of wild beasts and wild 
men? and what multitudes there might be 

of them they knew not If it be 

said they had a ship to succor them, it 
is true; but what heard they daily from 
the master and company? but that with 
speed they should look out a place with 
their shallop, where they would be at some 
near distance; for the season was such as 
he would not stir from thence till a safe 
harbor was discovered by them where they 
would be, and he might go without dan- 
ger; and that victuals consumed apace, 
but he must and would keep sufficient 
for themselves and their return. Yea, it 
was muttered by some, that if they got 
not a place in time, they would turn them 
and their goods ashore and leave them." 
—H. P. P. 



boat with juniper, which smelled 
very sweet and strong, and of which 
we burnt the most part of the time 
we lay there. 

Monday, the 13th of November, Nov. 2j, 1620 
we unshipped our shallop and drew 
her on land to mend and repair her, Cf. Bradford 7 
having been forced to cut her down 
in bestowing her betwixt the decks, 
and she was much opened with the 
people's lying in her; which kept 
us long there, for it was 16 or 17 
days before the carpenter had 
finished her. Our people went on 
shore to refresh themselves, and 
our women to wash, as they had 
great need. But whilst we lay thus 
still, hoping our shallop would be 
ready in five or six days at the 
furthest, but our carpenter made 
slow work of it, so that some of 
our people, impatient of delay> 



Bradford 7: 

^ " Necessity calling them to look out a 
place for habitation (as well as the mas- 
ter's and mariners' importunity) they hav- 
ing brought a large shallop with them out 
of England, stowed in quarters iu the ship, 
they now got her out and set their car- 
penters to work to trim her up; but being 
much bruised and shattered in the ship 
with foul weather, they saw she would be 
long in mending." — H. P. P. 



desired for our better furtherance 
to travel by land into the country 
(which was not without appearance 
of danger, not having the shallop 
with them, nor means to carry 
provision but on their backs) to 
see whether it might be fit for us 
to seat in or no; and the rather, be- 

Cf. Bradford 8 cause, as we sailed into the harbor, 
Pamet River there seemed to be a river opening 
itself into the main land. The 
willingness of the persons was 
liked, but the thing itself, in re- 
gard of the danger, was rather 
permitted than approved; and so 
with cautions, directions, and in- 
structions, sixteen men were set 
out with every man his musket, 
sword, and corslet, under the con- 
duct of Captain Miles Standish, 
unto whom was adjoined for 
counsel and advice, William Brad- 
ford, Stephen Hopkins, and Edward 
TiUey. 

Nov. 25^1620 Wednesday, the 15th of Nov- 
ember, they were set ashore; and 



Bradford 8: 

^ " As they went into that harbor, there 
seemed to be an opening some '2 or 3 
leagues off, which the master judged to 
be a river."— ^. P. P. 



10 



when they had ordered themselves 

in the order of a single file and 

marched about the space of a mile, 

by the sea they espied five or six 

people with a dog coming towards 

them, who were savages, who, when 

they saw them, ran into the wood 

and whistled the dog after them, 

bcc. First they supposed them to be 

Master Jones, the master, and some 

of his men, for they were ashore 

and knew of their coming; but 

after they knew them to be Indians, 

they marched after them into the 

woods, lest other of the Indians 

should lie in ambush. But when 

the Indians saw our men following Cf. Bradford g 

them, they ran away with might 

and main, and our men turned out 

of the wood after them — for it was 

the way they intended to go — but 

they could not come near them. 

They followed them that night 

about ten miles by the trace of 



Bradford 9: 

^ " But the Indians seeing themselves thus 
followed, they again forsook the woods, 
and ran away on the sands as hard as they 
could, so as they could not come near them, 
but followed them by the tract of their 
feet sundry miles, and saw that they had 
come the same way." — H. P. P. 



I I 



their footings, and saw how they 
had come the same way they went, 
and at a turning perceived how 
they run up a hill to see whether 
they followed them. At length 
night came upon them, and they 
were constrained to take up their 
lodging. So they set forth three 
sentinels, and the rest, some 
kindled a fire, and others fetched 
wood, and there held our rendez- 
vous that night. 
Nov. zSy 1620 In the morning, so soon as we 
could see the trace, we proceeded 
on our journey, and had the track 
East Harbor until we had compassed the head 
Creek^ i. e. of a long creek; and there they 
Pilgrim Lake took into another wood, and we 
after them, supposing to find some 
of their dwellings. But we marched 
Cf. Bradford 10 thorough boughs and bushes, and 
under hills and valleys, which tore 
our very armor in pieces, and yet 
could meet with none of them, nor 
their houses, nor find any fresh 
water, which we greatly desired 



Bradford 10: 

^ " But they still followed them by guess, 
hoping to find their dwellings; but they 
soon lost both them and themselves." u. 
—H. P. P. 



12 



and stood in need of; for we 
brought neither beer nor water with 
us, and our victuals was only- 
biscuit and Holland cheese, and a 
little bottle of aquavitae, so as we 
were sore athirst. About ten 
o'clock we came into a deep valley 
full of brush, wood-gaile, and long 
grass, through which we found 
little paths or tracts; and there we 
saw a deer, and found springs of 
fresh water, of which we were 
heartily glad, and sat us down 
and drunk our first New England 
water with as much delight as 
ever we drunk drink in all our Cf. Bradford ii 
lives. 

When we had refreshed ourselves, 
we directed our course full south, 
that we might come to the shore, Cf. Bradford 12 
which within a short while after 
we did, and there made a fire, that 
they in the ship might see where 
we were (as we had direction); and 



Bradford 11: 

^ ' ' Now in their great thirst as pleasant 
unto them as wine or beer had been in 
fore-times."—^. P. P. 

Bradford 12: 

^ " For they knew it was a neck of land 

they were to cross over." — H. P. P. 



13 



so marched on towards this sup- 
posed river. And as we went in 
another valley, we found a fine 
Pond Village clear pond of fresh water, being 
;. e. North Truro about a musket-shot broad, and 
twice as long; there grew also many 
small vines, and fowl and deer 
haunted there; there grew much 
sassafras. From thence we went on 
and found much plain ground, 
about fifty acres, fit for the plow, 
and some signs where the Indians 
had formerly planted their corn. 
After this some thought it best, 
for nearness of the river, to go 
down and travel on the sea sands, 
by which means some of our men 
were tired and lagged behind. 
So we stayed and gathered them 
up, and struck into the land again; 
where we found a little path to 
certain heaps of sand, one where- 
of was covered with old mats, and 
had a wooden thing like a mortar 
whelmed on the top of it, and an 
earthen pot laid in a little hole at 
the end thereof. We, musing what 
it might be, digged and found a 
bow, and, as we thought, arrows, 
but they were rotten. We supposed 

14 



there were many other things; 
but because we deemed them 
graves, we put in the bow again, 
and made it up as it was, and left 
the rest untouched, because we 
thought it would be odious unto 
them to ransack their sepulchres. 
We went on further and found 
new stubble, of which they had 
gotten corn this year, and many 
walnut trees full of nuts, and great 
store of strawberries, and some 
vines. Passing thus a field or two, 
which were not great, we came to 
another, which had also been new 
gotten, and there we found where 
an house had been, and four or five 
old planks laid together. Also we 
found a great kettle, which had 
been some ship's kettle and brought 
out of Europe. There was also an 
heap of sand, made like the former, 
but it was newly done (we might 
see how they had paddled it with 
their hands), which we digged up, 
and in it we found a little old 
basket full of fair Indian corn; Cornhill 
and digged further and found a 
fine great new basket full of very 
fair corn of this year with some 

15 



36 goodly ears of corn, some yellow, 
and some red, and others mixed 
Cf. Bradford 13 with blue, which was a very goodly 
sight. The basket was round, and 
narrow at the top. It held about 
three or four bushels, which was 
as much as two of us could lift up 
from the ground, and was very 
handsomely and cunningly made. 
But whilst we were busy about 
these things, we set our men sen- 
tinel in a round ring, all but two or 
three which digged up the corn. 
We were in suspense what to do 
with it and the kettle, and at 
length after much consultation, 
we concluded to take the kettle and 
as much of the corn as we could 
carry away with us; and when our 
shallop came, if we could find any 
of the people and come to parley 
with them, we would give them the 
kettle again and satisfy them for 

Bradford 13: 

^ " A very goodly sight (having never seen 
any such before.) This was near the place 
of that supposed river they came to seek; 
unto which they went and found it to open 
itself into two arms with a high cliff of sand 
in the entrance, but more like to be creeks 
of salt water than any fresh, for aught 
they saw; and that there was good har- 
borage for their shallop." — H. P. P. 

16 



their corn. So we took all the ears, 
and put a good deal of the loose 
corn in the kettle for two men to 
bring away on a staff. Besides, 
they that could put any into their 
pockets, filled the same. The rest 
we buried again; for we were so 
laden with armor that we could 
carry no more. 

Not far from this place we found 
the remainder of an old fort or 
palisado, which, as we conceived, 
had been made by some Christians. 
This was also hard by that place 
which we thought had been a 
river; unto which we went, and Pamet River 
found it so to be, dividing itself into 
two arms by an high bank standing Old Tom's Hill 
right by the cut or mouth, which 
came from the sea. That which was 
next unto us was the less; the other Little Pamet 
arm was more than twice as big, 
and not unlike to be an harbor for 
ships; but whether it be a fresh 
river, or only an indraught of the 
sea, we had no time to discover; 
for we had commandment to be out 
but two days. Here also we saw two 
canoes, the one on the one side, the 
other on the other side. We could 



17 



thus we came both weary and 
welcome home; and delivered in 
our corn into the store to be kept 
for seed, for we knew not how to 
come by any, and therefore were 
very glad, purposing, so soon as we 
could meet with any of the in- 
habitants of that place, to make 
C/. Bradford 15 them large satisfaction. This was 
our first discovery, whilst our 
shallop was in repairing. 

Our people did make things as 
fitting as they could, and time 
would, in seeking out wood, and 
helving of tools, and sawing of 
timber to build a new shallop. 
But the discommodiousness of the 
harbor did much hinder us; for 
we could neither go to nor come 
from the shore but at high water; 



should be in fear of their safety; and took 
with them part of the corn, and buried 
up the rest, and so like the men from 
Eshcol carried with them of the fruits of 
the land, and showed their brethren; of 
which, and their return, they were marvel- 
lously glad, and their hearts encouraged." 
—U.F.P. 

Bradford 15: 

^ " Purposing to give them full satisfac- 
tion when they should meet with any of 
them (as about some six months after- 
ward they did, to their good content)." 
—H. P. P. 



20 



which was much to our hindrance 
and hurt; for oftentimes they wad- 
ed to the middle of the thigh, 
and oft to the knees, to go and 
come from land. Some did it neces- 
sarily, and some for their own 
pleasure; but it brought to the 
most, if not to all, coughs and 
colds (the weather proving sud- 
denly cold and stormy), which af- 
terwards turned to the scurvy, 
whereof many died. 

When our shallop was fit (indeed 
before she was fully fitted, for there 
was two days' work after bestowed 
on her), there was appointed some 
24 men of our own, and armed, 
then to go and make a more full 
discovery of the rivers before men- 
tioned. Master Jones was desirous 
to go with us and took such of 
his sailors as he thought useful 
for us, so as we were in all about 
34 men. We made Master Jones 
our leader, for we thought it best 
herein to gratify his kindness and 
forwardness. When we were set 
forth, it proved rough weather and 
cross winds; so as we were con- 
strained, some in the shallop, and 



thus we came both weary and 
welcome home; and delivered in 
our corn into the store to be kept 
for seed, for we knew not how to 
come by any, and therefore were 
very glad, purposing, so soon as we 
could meet with any of the in- 
habitants of that place, to make 
'Q. Bradford 15 them large satisfaction. This was 
our first discovery, whilst our 
shallop was in repairing. 

Our people did make things as 
fitting as they could, and time 
would, in seeking out wood, and 
helving of tools, and sawing of 
timber to build a new shallop. 
But the discommodiousness of the 
harbor did much hinder us; for 
we could neither go to nor come 
from the shore but at high water; 



should be in fear of their safety; and tools 
with them part of the corn, and buried 
up the rest, and so like the men from 
Eshcol carried with them of the fruits of 
the land, and showed their brethren; of 
which, and their return, they were marvel- 
lously glad, and their hearts encouraged." 
—U. P. P. 

Bradford 15: 

^ " Purposing to give them full satisfac- 
tion when they should meet with any of 
them (as about some six months after- 
ward thev did, to their good content)." 
—H. P. P. 



which was much to our hindrance 
and hurt; for oftentimes they wad- 
ed to the middle of the thigh, 
and oft to the knees, to go and 
come from land- Some did it neces- 
sarily, and some for their own 
pleasure; but it brought to the 
most, if not to all, coughs and 
colds (the weather proving sud- 
denly cold and stormy), which af- 
terwards turned to the scurvy, 
whereof many died. 

When our shallop was fit (indeed 
before she was fully fitted, for there 
was two days' work after bestowed 
on her), there was appointed some 
24 men of our own, and armed, 
then to go and make a more full 
discovery of the rivers before men- 
tioned. Master Jones was desirous 
to go with us and took such of 
his sailors as he thought useful 
for us, so as we were in all about 
34 men. We made Master Jones 
our leader, for we thought it best 
herein to gratify his kindness and 
forwardness. When we were set 
forth, it proved rough weather and 
cross winds; so as we were con- 
strained, some in the shallop, and 



others in the long boat, to row 
to the nearest shore the wind would 
suffer them to go unto, and then 
to wade out above the knees. The 
wind was so strong as the shallop 
could not keep the water, but 
was forced to harbor there that 
night. But we marched six or seven 
miles further, and appointed the 
shallop to come to us as soon as 
they could. It blowed and did 
snow all that day and night, and 
froze withal. Some of our people 
that are dead took the original 
of their death here. 

The next day about 1 1 o'clock 
our shallop came to us, and we 
shipped ourselves; and the wind 
Pamei River being good, we sailed to the river 
we formerly discovered, which we 
named Cold Harbor; to which when 
we came, we found it not navigable 
for ships; yet we thought it might 
be a good harbor for boats, for it 
flows there twelve foot at high 
water. We landed our men between 
the two creeks, and marched some 
four or five miles by the greater of 
them, and the shallop followed us. 
At length night grew on, and our 



men were tired with marching up 
and down the steep hills and deep 
valleys, which lay half a foot thick 
with snow. Master Jones, wearied 
with marching, was desirous we 
should take up our lodging, though 
some of us would have marched 
further. So we made there our 
rendezvous for that night under 
a few pine trees; and as it fell 
out, we got three fat geese, and six 
ducks to our supper, which we eat 
with soldiers' stomachs, for we had 
eaten little all that day. Our reso- 
lution was, next morning to go 
up to the head of this river, for 
we supposed it would prove fresh 
water. 

But in the morning our reso- 
lution held not, because many liked 
not the hilliness of the soil and bad- 
ness of the harbor. So we turned 
towards the other creek, that we 
might go over and look for the 
rest of the corn that we left behind 
when we were here before. When 
we came to the creek, we saw the 
canoe lie on the dry ground, and 
a flock of geese in the river, at 
which one made a shot and killed 

23 



a couple of them; and we launched 
the canoe and fetched them, and 
when we had done, she carried us 
over by seven or eight at once. This 
done, we marched to the place 
where we had the corn formerly, 
Comhill which place we called Cornhill; 
and digged and found the rest, 
of which we were very glad. We 
also digged in a place a little further 
off, and found a bottle of oil. We 
went to another place which we 
had seen before, and digged and 
found more corn, viz. two or three 
baskets full of Indian wheat, and 
a bag of beans, with a good many 
of fair wheat ears. Whilst some of 
us were digging up this, some 
others found another heap of corn, 
which they digged up also; so as 
we had in all about ten bushels, 
which will serve us sufficiently for 
CJ. Bradford i6 seed. And sure it was God's good 



Bradford 16: 

^ " And here is to be noted a special 
providence of God, and a great mercy to 
this poor people, that here they got seed 
to plant them corn the next year, or else 
they might have starved, for they had 
none, nor any likelihood to get any till 
the season had been past (as the sequel did 
manifest). Neither is it likely they had 
had this, if the first voyage had not been 



-4 



providence that we found this corn, 
for else we know not how we should 
have done; for we knew not how 
we should find or meet with any 
of the Indians, except it be to do 
us a mischief. Also, we had never 
in all likelihood seen a grain of it, 
if we had not made our first jour- 
ney; for the ground was now cov- 
ered with snow, and so hard frozen 
that we were fain with our curtl- 
axes and short swords to hew 
and carve the ground a foot deep, 
and then wrest it up with levers, 
for we had forgot to bring other 
tools. Whilst we were in this em- 
ployment, foul weather being tow- 
ards, Master Jones was earnest to 
go aboard; but sundry of us de- 
sired to make further discovery and 
to find out the Indians' habitations. 
So we sent home with him our 
weakest people, and some that were 
sick, and all the corn; and i8 of 
us stayed still, and lodged there 
that night, and desired that the 



made, for the ground was now all covered 
with snow, and hard frozen. But the Lord 
is never wanting unto his in their greatest 
needs; let his holy name have all the praise." 
-E. P. P. 



25 



shallop might return to us next 
day, and bring us some mattocks 
and spades with them. 

The next morning we followed 
certain beaten paths and tracts of 
the Indians into the woods, sup- 
posing they would have led us into 
some town or houses. After we 
had gone a while, we light upon 
a very broad beaten path, well 
nigh two foot broad. Then we 
lighted all our matches, and pre- 
pared ourselves, concluding we 
were near their dwellings. But 
in the end we found it to be only 
a path made to drive deer in, when 
the Indians hunt, as we supposed. 

When we had marched five or 
six miles into the woods and could 
find no signs of any people, we 
returned again another way; and 
as we came into the plain ground, 
we found a place like a grave, but 
it was much bigger and longer 
than any we had yet seen. It was 
also covered with boards, so as 
we mused what it should be, and 
resolved to dig it up; where we 
found first a mat, and under that 
a fair bow, and there another mat, 

26 



and under that a board about 
three quarters long, finely carved 
and painted, with three tines or 
broaches on the top like a crown; 
also between the mats we found 
bowls, trays, dishes, and such like 
trinkets. At length we came to 
a fair new mat, and under that 
two bundles, the one bigger, the 
other less. We opened the greater, 
and found in it a great quantity 
of fine and perfect red powder, 
and in it the bones and skull of 
a man. The skull had fine yellow 
hair still on it, and some of the 
flesh unconsumed. There was 
bound up with it a knife, a pack- 
needle, and two or three old iron 
things. It was bound up in a sail- 
or's canvas cassock and a pair of 
cloth breeches. The red powder was 
a kind of embalment, and yielded 
a strong, but no offensive smell; 
it was as fine as any flour. We 
opened the less bundle likewise, 
and found of the same powder in 
it, and the bones and head of a 
little child. About the legs and 
other parts of it was bound strings 
and bracelets of fine white beads. 

27 



There was also by it a little bow, 
about three quarters long, and 
some other odd knacks. We 
brought sundry of the prettiest 
things away with us, and covered 
the corpse up again. After this we 
digged in sundry like places, but 
found no more corn, nor anything 
else but graves. 

There was variety of opinions 
amongst us about the embalmed 
person. Some thought it was an 
Indian lord and king. Others said, 
the Indians have all black hair, 
and never any was seen with brown 
or yellow hair. Some thought it was 
a Christian of some special note, 
which had died amongst them, and 
they thus buried him to honor him. 
Others thought they had killed him, 
and did it in triumph over him. 

Whilst we were thus ranging and 
searching, two of the sailors which 
were newly come on the shore, by 
chance espied two houses, which 
had been lately dwelt in, but the 
people were gone. They having 
their pieces and hearing nobody, 
entered the houses, and took out 
some things, and durst not stay, 

28 



but came again and told us. So 
some seven or eight of us went 
with them, and found how we had 
gone within a flight shot of them 
before. The houses were made 
with long young sapling trees 
bended and both ends stuck into 
the ground. They were made round 
like unto an arbor, and covered 
down to the ground with thick 
and well wrought mats; and the 
door was not over a yard high,, 
made of a mat to open. The chim- 
ney was a wide open hole in the 
top, for which they had a mat to 
cover it close when they pleased. 
One might stand and go upright 
in them. In the midst of them were 
four little trunches knocked into 
the ground, and small sticks laid 
over, on which they hung their 
pots and what they had to seethe. 
Round about the fire they lay on 
mats, which are their beds. The 
houses were double matted; for as 
rhey were matted without, so were 
they within, with newer and fairer 
mats. In the houses we found 
wooden bowls, trays, and dishes, 
earthen pots, hand-baskets made 

29 



of crab-shells wrought together; also 
an English pail or bucket; it wanted 
a bail, but it had two iron ears; there 
was also baskets of sundry sorts, 
bigger and some lesser, finer and 
some coarser; some were curiously 
wrought with black and white in 
pretty works; and sundry other of 
their household stuff. We found also 
two or three deer's heads, one where- 
of had been newly killed, for it was 
still fresh. There was also a company 
of deer's feet stuck up in the houses, 
harts' horns, and eagles' claws, and 
sundry such like things there was; 
also two or three baskets full of 
parched acorns, pieces of fish, and a 
piece of a broiled herring. We found 
also a little silk grass, and a little to- 
bacco seed, with some other seeds 
which we knew not. Without was 
sundry bundles of flags, and sedge, 
bulrushes, and other stuff to make 
mats. There was thrust into an 
hollow tree two or three pieces of 
venison; but we thought it fitter 
for the dogs than for us. Some of 
the best things we took away with 
us, and left the houses standing 
still as they were. 

30 i 



So it growing towards niglit, and 
the tide almost spent, we hasted 
with our things down to the shal- 
lop and got aboard that night, 
intending to have brought some 
beads and other things to have 
left in the houses In sign of peace 
and that we meant to truck with 
them; but it was not done by means 
of our hasty coming away from 
Cape Cod. But so soon as we can 
meet conveniently with them, we 
will give them full satisfaction. Thus 
much of our second discovery. 

Having thus discovered this 
place, it was controversial amongst 
us what to do touching our abode 
and settling there. Some thought 
it best, for many reasons, to abide Pamet River 
there. 

As first, that there was a conven- 
ient harbor for boats, though not 
for ships. 

Secondly, good corn-ground ready 
to our hands, as we saw by experi- 
ence in the goodly corn it yielded, 
which would again agree with the 
ground and be natural seed for 
the same. 

Thirdly, Cape Cod was like to be 

31 



a place of good fishing; for we saw 
daily great whales of the best kind 
for oil and bone, come close aboard 
our ship, and in fair weather swim 
and play about us. There was once 
one, when the sun shone warm, 
came and lay above water as if 
she had been dead, for a good 
while together, within half a mus- 
ket-shot of the ship; at which two 
were prepared to shoot to see 
whether she would stir or no. He 
that gave fire first, his musket flew 
in pieces, both stock and barrel; 
yet, thanks be to God, neither he 
nor any man else was hurt with it, 
though many were there about. 
But when the whale saw her time, 
she gave a snuff and away. 

Fourthly, the place was likely to 
be healthful, secure, and defensible. 

But the last and especial reason 
was, that now the heart of win- 
ter and unseasonable weather was 
come upon us, so that we could 
not go upon coasting and discov- 
ery without danger of losing men 
and boat, upon which would follow 
the overthrow of all, especially con- 
sidering what variable winds and 

32 



I 



sudden storms do there arise. Also, 
cold and wet lodging had so tainted 
our people (for scarce any of us 
were free from vehement coughs), 
as if they should continue long in 
that estate, it would endanger the 
lives of many and breed diseases 
and infection amongst us. Again, 
we had yet some beer, butter, 
flesh, and other such victuals left, 
which would quickly be all gone; 
and then we should have nothing 
to comfort us in the great labor 
and toil we were like to undergo 
at the first. It was also conceived, 
whilst we had competent victuals, 
that the ship would stay with us; 
but when that grew low, they 
would be gone, and let us shift 
as we could. 

Others, again, urged greatly the 
going to Anguum, or Angoum, a 
place twenty leagues off to the 
northwards, which they had heard 
to be an excellent harbor for ships, 
better ground, and better fishing. 
Secondly, for anything we knew, 
there might be hard by us a far 
better seat; and it should be a 
great hindrance to seat where we 

:^3 



should remove again. Thirdly, the 
water was but in ponds; and it 
was thought there would be none 
in summer, or very little. Fourthly, 
the water there must be fetched 
up a steep hill. 

But to omit many reasons and 
replies used hereabouts, it was in 
the end concluded to make some 
discovery within the bay, but in 
no case so far as Angoum. Besides, 
Robert Coppin, our pilot, made 
relation of a great navigable river 
and good harbor in the other head- 
land of the bay, almost right over 
against Cape Cod, being a right 
line, not much above eight leagues 
distant, in which he had been once; 
and because that one of the wild 
men with whom they had some 
trucking stole a harping iron from 
them, they called it Thievish Har- 
bor. And beyond that place they 
were enjoined not to go. Where- 
upon a company was chosen to 
go out upon a third discovery. 
Whilst some were employed in this 
discovery, it pleased God that Mis- 
tress White was brought a-bed of 
a son, which was called Peregrine. 

34 



he I 
it 1 



The fifth day we, through God's Dec. /J, J620 
mercy, escaped a great danger by 
the fooUshness of a boy, one of 
Francis Billington's sons, who, in 
his father's absence, had got gun- 
powder, and had shot off a piece 
or two, and made squibs; and there 
being a fowling-piece charged in his 
father's cabin, shot her off in the 
cabin, there being a little barrel of 
powder half full, scattered in and 
about the cabin, the fire being 
within four foot of the bed between 
the decks, and many flints and 
iron things about the cabin, and 
many people about the fire; and 
yet, by God's mercy, no harm done. 

Wednesday, the sixth of Decem- Dec. 16^ 1620 
ber, it was resolved our discoverers 
should set forth, for the day before 
was too foul weather; and so they 
did, though it was well o'er the day 
ere all things could be ready. So 
ten of our men were appointed 
who were of themselves willing to 
undertake it, to wit,Captain Stand- 
ish. Master Carver, William Brad- 
ford, Edward Winsloe, John Tilley, 
Edward Tilley, John Houland, and 
three of London, Richard Warren, 

3S 



Steeven Hopkins, and Edward 
Dotte, and two of our seamen, 
John Alderton and Thomas Eng- 
lish. Of the ship's company there 
went two of the master's mates. 
Master Clarke and Master Copin, 
the master gunner, and three sail- 
ors. The narration of which dis- 
covery follows, penned by one of 
the company. 
Dec. i6, 1620 Wednesday, the sixth of Decem- 
ber, we set out, being very cold 
and hard weather. We were a long 
while after we launched from the 
ship, before we could get clear of 
Long Point a sandy point, which lay within 
less than a furlong of the same. 
In which time two were very sick, 
and Edward Tilley had like to have 
sounded with cold. The gunner 
also was sick unto death (but hope 
of trucking made him to go), and 
so remained all that day and the 
next night. At length we got clear 
of the sandy point, and got up our 
sails, and within, an hour or two 
we got under the weather shore, 
and then had smoother water and 
better sailing. But it was very cold; 
for the water froze on our clothes, 

3(> 



and made them many times like 
coats of iron. 

We sailed six or seven leagues 
by the shore, but saw neither river 
nor creek. At length we met with CJ. Bradford 17 
a tongue of land, being flat off 
from the shore, with a sandy point. 
We bore up to gain the point, and 
found there a fair income or road Wellfleet Bay 
of a bay, being a league over at 
the narrowest, and some two or 
three in length; but we made right 
over to the land before us, and 
left the discovery of this income 
till the next day. As we drew near 
to the shore, we espied some ten 
or twelve Indians very busy about 
a black thing — what it was we 
could not tell — till afterwards they 
saw us, and ran to and fro, as if 
they had been carrying something 
away. We landed a league or two 
from them, and had much ado to 
put ashore any where, it lay so 
full of flat sands. When we came 



Bradford 17: 

^ " Yet that night betimes they got down 

into the bottom of the bay."— «, P. P. 



37 



CJ. Bradford i8 to shore, we made us a barricado, 
and got firewood, and set out sen- 
tinels, and betook us to our lodg- 
ing, such as it was. We saw the 
smoke of the fire which the savages 
made that night about four or five 
miles from us. 
Bee. 77, 1620 In the morning we divided our 
company^ some eight in the shal- 
lop, and the rest on the shore went 
to discover this place. But we 
found it only to be a bay, without 
either river or creek coming into it. 
Yet we deemed it to be as good an 
harbor as Cape Cod; for they that 
sounded it found a ship might ride 
in five fathom water. We on the 
Eastham land found it to be a level soil, 
but none of the fruitfullest. We 
saw two becks of fresh water, which 
were the first running streams that 
we saw in the country; but one 
might stride over them. We found 
also a great fish, called a grampus, 
dead on the sands. They in the 



Bradford 18: 

^ " Being landed, it grew late, and they 
made themselves a barricade with logs 
and boughs as well as they could in the 
time."— £?. P. P. 



38 



shallop found two of them also Cf. Bradford iq 

in the bottom of the bay, dead 

in like sort. They were cast up at 

high water, and could not get off 

for the frost and ice. They were 

some five or six paces long, and 

about two inches thick of fat, and 

fleshed like a swine. They would 

have yielded a great deal of oil, 

if there had been time and means 

to have taken it. So we finding 

nothing for our turn, both we and 

our shallop returned. 

We then directed our course along 
the sea sands to the place where 
we first saw the Indians. When we 
were there, we saw it was also a 
grampus which they were cutting 
up. They cut it into long rands or 
pieces, about an ell long and two 
handfull broad. We found here and 
there a piece scattered by the way, 
as it seemed, for haste. This place 
the most were minded we should 
call the Grampus Bay, because we Wellfleet Bay 
found so many of them there. We 



Bradford 19: 

C " The shallop found two more of these 
Bshes dead on the sands, a thing usual af- 
ter storms in that place, by reason of the 
great flats of sand that lie off."— H. P. P. 



39 



followed the tract of the Indians' 
bare feet a good way on the sands. 
At length we saw where they struck 
into the woods by the side of a 
pond. As we went to view the place, 
one said he thought he saw an 
Indian house among the trees; so 
went up to see. And here we and 
the shallop lost sight one of another 
till night, it being now about nine 
or ten o'clock. So we light on a 
path, but saw no house, and fol- 
lowed a great way into the woods. 
At length we found where corn 
had been set, but not that year. 
Anon, we found a great burying 
place, one part whereof was en- 
compassed with a large palisado, 
like a church-yard with young 
spires four or five yards long, set 
as close one by another as they 
could, two or three foot in the 
ground. Within it was full of 
graves, some bigger and some less. 
Some were also paled about; and 
others had like an Indian house 
made over them, but not matted. 
Those graves were more sumptuous 
than those at Cornhill; yet we 
digged none of them up, but only 

40 



viewed them and went our way. 
Without the palisado were graves 
also, but not so costly. From this 
place we went and found more 
corn-ground, but not of this year. 
As we ranged, we light on four 
or five Indian houses, which had 
been lately dwelt in; but they were 
uncovered, and had no mats about 
them; else they were like those 
we found at Cornhilly but had not 
been so lately dwelt in. There was 
nothing left but two or three pieces 
of old mats, a little sedge, also a 
little further we found two baskets 
full of parched acorns hid in the 
ground, which we supposed had 
been corn when we began to dig 
the same; we cast earth thereon 
again, and went our way. All this 
while we saw no people. 

We went ranging up and down 
till the sun began to draw low, Cf. Bradford 20 
and then we hasted out of the 
woods, that we might come to 



Bradford 20: 

^ " When the sirn grew low, they hasted 
out of the woods to meet with their shal- 
lop, to whom they made signs to come 
to them into a creek hard by, the which 
they did at high water."— ff. P. P. 



Eastham 
Cf. Bradford 21 



our shallop, which, when we were 
out of the woods, we espied a great 
way off, and called them to come 
unto us; the which they did as soon 
as they could, for it was not yet 
high water- They were exceeding 
glad to see us, for they feared 
because they had not seen us in 
so long a time, thinking we would 
have kept by the shore side. So 
being both weary and faint — for 
we had eaten nothing all that day 
— we fell to make our rendezvous 
and get fire wood, which always 
cost us a great deal of labor. By 
that time we had done and our 
shallop come to us, it was within 
night; and we fed upon such vict- 
uals as we had, and betook us to 
our rest, after we had set out our 
watch. About midnight we heard 
a great and hideous cry; and our 
sentinel called, " Arml Arm! " So 



Bradford 21: 

^ " So they made them a barricado (as 
usually they did every night) with logs, 
stakes, and thick pine boughs, the height 
of a man, leaving it open to leeward, partly 
to shelter them from the cold and wind 
(making their fire in the middle, and lying 
round about it), and partly to defend them 
from any sudden assaults of the savages, 
if they should surround them." — H. P. P. 



42 



we bestirred ourselves, and shot off 
a couple of muskets, and noise 
ceased. We concluded that it was 
a company of wolves or foxes; for 
one told us he had heard such a 
noise in Newfoundland. 

About five o'clock in the morn- Dec. iSy 1620 
ing we began to be stirring; and Cf. Bradford 22 
two or three, which doubted wheth- 
er their pieces would go off or no, 
made trial of them and shot them 
off, but thought nothing at all. 
After prayer we prepared ourselves 
for breakfast and for a journey; 
and it being now the twilight in 
the morning, it was thought meet 
to carry the things down to the 
shallop. Some said it was not best Cf. Bradford 2j 
to carry the armor down. Others 
said, they would be readier. Two 
or three said, they would not carry 



Bradford 22: 

fl " So they rested till about five of the 
clock in the morning; for the tide, and 
their purpose to go from thence, made 
them be stirring betimes." — H. P. P. 

Bradford 23: 

Q " But some said it was not best to carry 
the arms down, others said they would 
be the readier, for they had lapped them 
up in their coats from the dew. But some 
three or four would not carry theirs till 
they went themselves." — H. P. P. 



43 



theirs till they went themselves, 
but mistrusting nothing at all. As 
it fell out, the water not being 
high enough, they laid the things 
down upon the shore, and came 
up to breakfast. Anon, all upon 
a sudden, we heard a great and 
strange cry, which we knew to be 
the same voices,though they varied 
their notes. One of our company, 
being abroad, came running in, and 
cried, "They are men! Indians! 
Indians! " and withal their arrows 
came flying amongst us. Our men 
Cf. Bradford 24 ran out with all speed to recover 
their arms; as by the good provi- 
dence of God they did. In the mean 
time Captain Miles Standish, hav- 
ing a snaphance ready, made a shot; 
and after him another. After they 
two had shot, other two of us were 
ready; but he wished us not to 
shoot till we could take aim, for 



Bradford 2'f: 

^ " The cry of the Indians was dreadful, 
especially when they saw their men run 
out of the rendezvous towards the shallop 
to recover their arms, the Indians wheeling 
about upon them. But some running out 
with coats of mail on, and cutlasses in 
their hands, they soon got their arms, and 
let fly amongst them, and quickly stopped 
their violence." — H. P. P. 

44 



we knew not what need we should 
have; and there were four only 
of us which had their arms there 
ready, and stood before the open 
side of our barricado, which was 
first assaulted. They thought it 
best to defend it, lest the enemy 
should take it and our stuff, and 
so have the more vantage against 
us. Our care was no less for the 
shallop, but we hoped all the rest 
would defend it. We called unto 
them to know how it was with 
them; and they answered "Well! 
Well!" every one, and "Be of 
good courage! " We heard three of 
their pieces go off, and the rest 
called for a firebrand to light their 
matches. One took a log out of 
the fire on his shoulder and went 
and carried it unto them; which 
was thought did not a little dis- 
courage our enemies. The cry of 
our enemies was dreadful, espec- 
ially when our men ran out to 
recover their arms. Their note was 
after this manner, '^Woath woach ha 
ha hach woachy Our men were no 
sooner come to their arms, but the 
enemy was ready to assault them. 

45 



There was a lusty man, and no 
whit less valiant, who was thought 
to be their captain, stood behind 
a tree within half a musket-shot 
of us, and there let his arrows 
fly at us. He was seen to shoot 
three arrows, which were all avoid- 
ed; for he at whom the first arrow 
was aimed saw it, and stooped 
down, and it flew over him. The 
Cf. Bradford 25 rest were avoided also. He stood 
three shots of a musket. At length 
one took, as he said, full aim at 
him; after which he gave an extra- 
ordinary cry, and away they went 
all. We followed them about a 
quarter of a mile; but we left six 
to keep our shallop, for we were 
careful of our business. Then 
we shouted all together two several 
times, and shot off a couple of 
muskets, and so returned. This we 
did that they might see we were 
not afraid of them, nor discouraged. 
Thus it pleased God to vanquish 

Bradford 25: 

^ " He stood three shot of a musket, till 
one taking full aim at him, and made the 
bark or splinters of the tree fly about his 
ears, after which he gave an extraordinary 
shriek and away they went all of them." 
—H. P. P. 

46 



our enemies and give us deliverance. 
By their noise we could not guess 
that they were less than thirty or 
forty, though some thought that 
they were many more. Yet, in the 
dark of the morning, we could not 
so well discern them among the 
trees, as they could see us by our 
fire-side. We took up i8 of their 
arrows, which we have sent to 
England by Master Jones; some 
whereof were headed with brass, 
others with harts' horn, and others 
with eagles' claws. Many more no 
doubt were shot, for these we found 
were almost covered with leaves; 
yet, by the especial providence of 
God, none of them either hit or 
hurt us, though many came close 
by us and on every side of us, 
and some coats which hung up 
in our barricado were shot through 
and through. 

So after we had given God thanks 
for our deliverance, we took our 
shallop and went on our journey, 
and called this place The First Cf. Note 26 



Note 26: 

fl The place of the Encounter is identified 

in the record of a return-trip in the summer 

47 



Encounter. From hence we intended 
to have sailed to the aforesaid 
Thievish Harbor^ if we found no 
convenient harbor by the way. 
Having the wind good, we sailed 
all that day along the coast about 
15 leagues; but saw neither river 
nor creek to put into. After we 
had sailed an hour or two, it began 
to snow and rain, and to be bad 
weather. About the midst of the 
afternoon the wind increased, and 
the seas began to be very rough; 
and the hinges of the rudder broke, 
so that we could steer no longer 
Cf. Bradford 27 with it, but two men with much 
ado were fain to serve with a couple 
of oars. The seas were grown so 
great that we were much troubled 
and in great danger; and night 



of 16-21 (Mourt'a Relation, Voyage to 
Nauset): " We took boat for Nauset . . . 
The savages here came very thick amongst 

us They only had formerly made 

an assault upon us in the same place in 
time of our winter Discovery for habita- 
tion. And indeed it was no marvel they 
did so; for howsoever through snow or 
otherwise we saw no houses, yet we were 
in the midst of them." 

Bradford 27: 

^ " It was as much as two men could 
do to steer her with a couple of oars." 
—H. P. P. 

48 



grew on. Anon, Master Coppin bade 

us be of good cheer, he saw the 

harbor. As we drew near, the gale 

being stiff, and we bearing great Cf. Bradford 28 

sail to get in, split our mast in 3 

pieces, and were like to have cast 

away our shallop. Yet, by God's 

mercy recovering ourselves, we had 



Bradford 28- 

^ " They bore what sail they could to 
get in, while they could see. But here- 
with they broke their mast in three pieces, 
and their sail fell overboard in a very 
grown sea, so as they had like to have 
been cast away; yet by God's mercj^ they 
recovered themselves, and having the flood 
with them, struck into the harbor. But 
when it came to, the pilot was deceived 
in the place, and said, the Lord be merci- 
ful unto them, for his eyes never saw that 
place before; and he and the master's mate 
would have run her ashore in a cove full 
of breakers before the wind. But a lusty 
seaman which steered, bade those which 
rowed, if they were men, about with her, 
or else they were all cast away; the which 
they did with speed. So he bid them be 
of good cheer and row lustily, for there 
was a fair sound before them and he 
doubted not but they should find one 
place or other where they might ride in 
safety. And though it was very dark and 
rained sore, yet in the end they got under 
the lee of a small island, and remained 
there all that night in safety. But they 
knew not this to be an island till morning, 
but were divided in their minds; some 
would keep the boat for fear they might 
be amongst the Indians; others were so 
weak and cold, they could not endure, 
but got ashore, and with much ado got 
fire (all things being so wet) and the rest 
were glad to come to them; for after mid- 
49 



the flood with us, and struck into 
Plymouth the harbor. 

Now he that thought that had 
been the place, was deceived, it 
being a place where not any of 
us had been before; and coming 
into the harbor, he that was our 
pilot did bear up northward, which 



night the wind shifted to the northwest, 
and it froze hard. But though this had 
been a day and night of much trouble 
and danger unto them, yet God gave 
them a morning of conifort and refresh- 
ing (as usually he doth to his children) 
for the next day was a fair sunshining day, 
and they found themselves to be on an 
island secure from the Indians, where they 
might dry their stuff, fix their pieces, 
and rest themselves, and gave God thank* 
for his mercies in their manifold deliver- 
ances. And this being the last day of the 
week, they prepared there to keep the 
Sabbath. On Monday they sounded the 
harbor, and found it fit for shipping: 
and marched into the land, and found 
divers cornfields, and little running brooks, 
a place (as they supposed) fit for situation; 
at lea-t it was the best they could find, 
and the season, and their present necessity, 
made them glad to accept of it. So they 
returned to their ship again with this news 
to the rest of their people which did much 
comfort their hearts. 

" On the 15th of December they weighed 
anchor to go to the place they had dis- 
covered, and came within two leagues of 
it, but were fain to bear up again; but 
the 16th day the wind came fair, and they 
arrived safe in this harbor. And afterwards 
took better view of the place, and resolved 
where to pitch their dwelling; and the 2ft h 
day began to erect the first house for common 
use to receive them and their goods." H.P.P. 



50 



if we had continued, we had been 
cast away. Yet still the Lord kept 
us, and we bare up for an island 
before us; and recovering of that 
island, being compassed about with 
many rocks, and dark night grow- 
ing upon us, it pleased the divine 
providence that we fell upon a 
place of sandy ground, where our 
shallop did ride safe and secure 
all that night; and coming upon 
a strange island, kept our watch Clark's Island 
all night in the rain upon that 
island. And in the morning we Dec. ig^ 1620 
marched about it, and found no 
inhabitants at all; and here we 
made our rendezvous all that day, 
being Saturday. loth of December, T)ec. 20, 1620 
on the Sabbath day we rested; 
and on Monday we sounded the Dec. 21^ 1620 
harbor, and found It a very good 
harbor for our shipping. We 
marched also into the land, and 
found divers cornfields, and little 
running brooks, a place very good 
for situation. So we returned to 
our ship again with good news to Provincetown 
the rest of our people, which did 
much comfort their hearts. 
On the fifteenth day we weighed Dec. 25, 1620 

51 



anchor to go to the place we had 
discovered; and coming within two 
leagues of the land, we could not 
fetch the harbor, but were fain to 
put room again towards Cape Cod, 
our course lying west, and the wind 
was at northwest. But it pleased God 
that the next day, being Saturday 
Dec. 26^ 1620 the i6th day, the wind came fair, 
and we put to sea again, and came 
safely into a safe harbor; and within 
half an hour the wind changed, so 
as if we had been letted but a little, 
we had gone back to Cape Cod. 
Plymouth This harbor is a bay greater than 
Cape Cod, compassed with a goodly 
land; and in the bay 1 fine islands 
uninhabited, wherein are nothing 
but wood, oaks, pines, walnut» 
beech, sassafras, vines, and other 
trees which we know not. This bay 
is a most hopeful place; innumer- 
able store of fowl, and excellent 
good; and cannot but be of fish in 
theirseasons; skate, cod, turbot, and 
herring, we have tasted ot; abun- 
dance of mussels, the greatest and 
best that ever we saw; crabs and 
lobsters, in their time infinite. It is 
in fashion like a sickle, or fish-hook. 



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